After the brief disturbance, the poetry gathering officially began.
Shang Changge, the Princess, was not someone people dared provoke.
And Xiao Ji, the Great General, was a notorious god of slaughter.
With these two terrifying figures present, the Lakeside Pavilion felt less like a poetry gathering and more like a courtroom of the underworld.
Fortunately, Yun Luobai and Yun Xiangrong were both skilled at livening up a crowd, and before long the scholars and noble youths relaxed and joined in.
Since autumn had just arrived, the theme of the gathering was naturally “Autumn.”
“The autumn moon and lake shine in harmony,
The still waters gleam like an unpolished mirror.”
“Old trees wear autumn’s colors,
An empty pond reflects the moon’s radiance.”
“After fresh rain upon the empty mountain,
The evening air announces autumn’s arrival.”
Though the gathering served ulterior purposes, everyone present truly was educated.
Qingyan was a great nation, after all, and talented people were abundant.
“Excellent!”
Seated comfortably in the evening breeze, Shang Changge occasionally applauded and cheered for the literary talents composing poems.
She had absolutely no intention of participating herself.
Anything that required brainpower while offering no tangible benefits was not something she intended to do.
Yes.
She was exactly that practical a woman.
Did she stand up earlier for Xiao Ji and the soldiers because she had been moved and acted on impulse?
Of course not.
That had been a calculated move to earn Xiao Ji’s goodwill and establish a connection.
After all, the man controlled one-third of Qingyan’s military forces.
If not for that, why would she waste her breath?
She had no interest in being anyone’s savior.
“Your Highness, would you care to compose a poem as well?”
As expected of the niece of the Imperial Consort and daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue, Yun Xiangrong remained graceful and composed even in the presence of two living disasters.
The pavilion fell silent.
Everyone looked toward Shang Changge.
Setting down her untouched wine cup, she replied:
“No.”
Her beautiful eyes accurately located Wen Wanyi.
Her gaze was benevolent.
Kind.
Gentle.
A strangely affectionate gaze that made people uncomfortable.
Despite Wen Wanyi shrinking into herself like a frightened quail and doing everything possible to reduce her presence, Shang Changge remained completely inconsiderate of the poor girl’s feelings.
“I came tonight because I have a gift that I personally wish to present to Sister Wanyi.
Please continue. There’s no need to feel restrained because of my presence.”
A flicker passed through Yun Xiangrong’s eyes.
With a smile, she accepted the answer and turned to Xiao Ji.
“What about you, General? Would you like to compose a poem?”
Shang Changge looked over.
The lanterns illuminating the pavilion were bright enough for every face to be seen clearly.
And since they happened to be seated fairly close together, she was finally able to examine the Great General properly.
Xiao Ji possessed sharply defined features and a cold, angular face.
Ordinarily, eyes shaped like his would appear affectionate when looking at someone.
Yet on him, they conveyed only indifference and bloodshed.
Whatever he looked at seemed no different from a corpse.
His nose was high and straight.
Perhaps a little too straight.
The elegant bridge should have been handsome, but instead gave him an air of merciless severity.
His lips were thin.
At the moment they were pressed into a straight line.
Perhaps because he had been drinking, they actually looked…
rather kissable.
Tsk.
The corners of Shang Changge’s lips curled upward.
She found her own random thought amusing.
Then she silently added another observation.
They may look kissable, but they’re probably cold as ice with no warmth at all.
Ever since sitting down, Xiao Ji had barely spoken.
Whether he had noticed her scrutiny was impossible to tell.
When declining Yun Xiangrong’s invitation, however, he answered decisively and with impeccable reasoning.
“I spend my days reading military manuals.
I don’t know how to write poetry.”
Shang Changge raised an eyebrow.
What a thing to say.
One had come to deliver a gift.
The other claimed he couldn’t compose poetry.
The two of them sounded suspiciously coordinated.
If she didn’t know that the original owner and Xiao Ji had virtually no interaction whatsoever, she might have suspected they had arranged to sabotage the gathering together.
As expected, everyone’s expressions became rather complicated.
Still, regardless of what they thought, the poetry gathering had to continue.
Time passed little by little.
Since neither Shang Changge nor Xiao Ji actually did anything besides sit there and watch, and because everyone had consumed a bit of wine, the atmosphere gradually loosened.
The earlier tension slowly faded.
By the time the gathering reached its conclusion, it was already the Hour of Hai.
Throughout the evening, Shang Changge had memorized every face present.
Using the original owner’s memories, she mentally sorted through each person’s family background and influence.
From among them, she identified which young nobles might prove useful in the future.
Then, displaying remarkable consideration, she proposed personally providing a finale for the evening’s festivities.
Everyone was both surprised and curious.
One by one, they stretched their necks in anticipation, waiting to see the Princess’s mysterious gift.
Gulp.
Gulp.
As the guards carried something down from the carriage, illuminated by lantern light, several people unconsciously swallowed nervously.
Then—
THUD!
The bizarrely arranged corpses of Qinghe and Qingyu were thrown heavily into the center of the pavilion where Wen Wanyi was seated.
Instantly, shrill screams erupted everywhere.
“AHHH!”
“W-What is that?!”
“T-This—!”
The frightened cries rose and fell one after another.
The calmest person present was probably Xiao Ji.
More accurately, he appeared utterly indifferent.
While everyone else’s attention focused on the corpses, Xiao Ji turned his head.
His gaze landed directly upon Shang Changge, who wore a mischievous smile.
It almost felt like repayment for her earlier scrutiny of him.
Shang Changge, however, couldn’t have cared less.
Bracing her hands against the armrests, she rose from the seat of honor.
Her tall stature allowed her to easily spot Wen Wanyi despite the commotion.
Concerned that her voice might be drowned out, she deliberately raised her volume.
“Sister Wanyi, do you like the gift I prepared for you?”
The noble daughters who had been standing beside Wen Wanyi immediately scattered away from her.
Everyone nearby retreated as well.
In the blink of an eye, Wen Wanyi stood alone in the center of the pavilion.
Alone beneath the night sky.
Alone beside the corpses of Qinghe and Qingyu.
Impossible to miss.
Wen Wanyi clenched her teeth so tightly that she barely managed to maintain her composure.
Looking up at Shang Changge, she forced a smile.
“How could I dare dislike a gift bestowed by Your Highness?
I simply don’t understand why Your Highness would present such a gift to me.”
Her mental fortitude was impressive.
At least, if one ignored her bloodless, deathly pale face.
“You understand perfectly well, little sister.”
After sitting around for so long, Shang Changge was beginning to feel tired.
She wasn’t in a hurry to publicly expose Wen Wanyi’s crimes.
Instead, she spoke leisurely:
“Tonight’s gift is merely an appetizer.
There’s no need to be so moved by it.
Tomorrow, I shall present you with an even greater gift.”
With those cryptic words, Shang Changge departed first, taking Qingyao and the others with her.
Compared to killing someone outright, there was a far more agonizing form of torment.
Knowing death was coming.
And being utterly unable to save oneself.
That kind of psychological suffering was much harder to endure.
“Farewell, Your Highness.”
Despite the countless questions and complaints simmering inside them—and despite their lingering fear—everyone respectfully saw the Princess off.
The night was enchanting.
Just before the long procession from the Princess’s Residence departed, Shang Changge lifted the carriage curtain and glanced at Xiao Ji among the crowd.
Unlike the others, he wasn’t dressed in flowing scholar’s robes.
Instead, he wore the attire of a martial man.
Combined with his tall, imposing frame and heroic bearing, he naturally stood out from everyone else.
“General Xiao, would you care to leave together with me?”
Of course, she was only asking casually.
She had invited him to sit with her earlier, and now she was inviting him to leave with her.
She simply liked seeing things through from beginning to end.
More importantly, this was their first meeting.
Basic politeness was enough.
Anything more would likely have the opposite effect and make him suspect ulterior motives.
Though, admittedly, she did have ulterior motives.
“Your Highness should go ahead.”
Perhaps Xiao Ji had realized she was merely being polite.
His response was equally courteous.
The Princess’s carriages gradually rolled away.
Before long, they disappeared into the night, vanishing from everyone’s sight.